New Census Bureau data shows Puerto Rico lost nearly 4% of its population after Hurricane Maria — the greatest population drop in the recorded history of the island, according to one demographer.
Data released Thursday shows the U.S. territory's population dropped by 129,848 people between July 2017 and July 2018. The hurricane struck two months into that period, in September 2017. The population loss was due to both deaths and people moving away, although emigration accounted for most of the drop. The heaviest population drops occurred in metropolitan areas such as the capital of San Juan, the city of Ponce and surrounding areas.
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New Census Bureau data shows Puerto Rico lost nearly 4% of its population after Hurricane Maria — the greatest population drop in the recorded history of the island, according to one demographer.
The census numbers show there were 6,449 more deaths than births during the 12 months in question, a normal figure, even though there were several thousand more deaths than normal in the months immediately following the hurricane.
Many Puerto Ricans left for Florida and New York, home to communities of people from the territory.
The San Juan area lost 81,087 people, a 3.9% drop, in the 12 months covered by the Census Bureau report.
Magaly Robles has been selling roast potatoes outside the plaza for 15 years. A native of the Dominican Republic, she said that because she has a job, she has no intention of moving again.
Luggage seller Jose Forteza, 88, poses for a portrait outside his store, one of the few still open in the Paseo de Diego of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, April 17, 2019. Paseo de Diego, the central thoroughfare in Rio Piedras, was filled years ago with stores that are closed and empty today. (AP PhotoCarlos Giusti)
Residents sit outside the Plaza del Mercado in the Rio Piedras area of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, April 17, 2019, where a Puerto Rican flag hangs. "You see fewer people around, fewer young people," said Wilfredo Montañez, 52, who was sitting on a bench in the plaza. (AP PhotoCarlos Giusti)
Residents stand inside the Plaza del Mercado in the Rio Piedras area of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, April 17, 2019. New Census Bureau data shows that Puerto Rico lost nearly 4% of its population after Hurricane Maria - the greatest population drop in the recorded history of the island, according to one demographer. (AP PhotoCarlos Giusti)
"It's the largest population drop seen in a single year ever registered in Puerto Rico," demographer Raúl Figueroa said.
Sister Carmen Negrón, 64, sells handmade rosaries and religious icons in the Plaza del Mercado in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, April 17, 2019. Negrón says she's noticed a drop in sales due to what seem to be fewer people in the area. (AP PhotoCarlos Giusti)
The census numbers show there were 6,449 more deaths than births during the 12 months in question, a normal figure, even though there were several thousand more deaths than normal in the months immediately following the hurricane.
Many of those excess deaths following the hurricane were of sick and elderly people who would have died sometime in the year in the question, Figueroa said. Deaths for the year may have been concentrated right after the storm due to the lack of electricity, services and fresh water.
He said he thinks emigration slowed in 2019 and the population has begun to slowly recover.
A municipal police officer drives past shuttered shops in the Paseo de Diego of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, April 17, 2019. Many Puerto Ricans have left for Florida and New York. (AP PhotoCarlos Giusti)
Many Puerto Ricans left for Florida and New York, home to communities of people from the territory.
Sister Carmen Negrón of the Society of the Sacred Heart sells handmade rosaries and religious icons in a narrow passage in the Plaza del Mercado in the Rio Piedras area of San Juan. She said she has noticed a drop in sales due to what seem to be fewer people in the area.
"This area's been shrinking," Negron said. "Sales are down."
Lottery vendor Manuel Almonte waits for customers in the sparce Rio Piedras area of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, April 17, 2019. The heaviest population drops in Puerto Rico since Hurricane Maria have occurred in metropolitan areas such as the capital and the city of Ponce. (AP PhotoCarlos Giusti)
The San Juan area lost 81,087 people, a 3.9% drop, in the 12 months covered by the Census Bureau report.
Paseo de Diego, the central thoroughfare in Rio Piedras, was filled years ago with stores that are closed and empty today.
"You see fewer people around, fewer young people," said Wilfredo Montañez, who was sitting on a bench in the plaza.
Shops are shuttered in the Paseo de Diego in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, April 17, 2019. This central thoroughfare in Rio Piedras was filled years ago with stores that are closed and empty today. (AP PhotoCarlos Giusti)
Magaly Robles has been selling roast potatoes outside the plaza for 15 years. A native of the Dominican Republic, she said that because she has a job, she has no intention of moving again.
"Lots of people have left since Maria," Robles said. "Many of my friends have gone and not come back."
Genesis Perez Martinez, 24, works at the Plaza del Mercado in the Rio Piedras area of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, April 17, 2019. The San Juan area has lost 3.9% of its population since Hurricane Maria. (AP PhotoCarlos Giusti)
Luggage seller Jose Forteza, 88, poses for a portrait outside his store, one of the few still open in the Paseo de Diego of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, April 17, 2019. Paseo de Diego, the central thoroughfare in Rio Piedras, was filled years ago with stores that are closed and empty today. (AP PhotoCarlos Giusti)
Residents sit outside the Plaza del Mercado in the Rio Piedras area of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, April 17, 2019, where a Puerto Rican flag hangs. "You see fewer people around, fewer young people," said Wilfredo Montañez, 52, who was sitting on a bench in the plaza. (AP PhotoCarlos Giusti)
Residents stand inside the Plaza del Mercado in the Rio Piedras area of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, April 17, 2019. New Census Bureau data shows that Puerto Rico lost nearly 4% of its population after Hurricane Maria - the greatest population drop in the recorded history of the island, according to one demographer. (AP PhotoCarlos Giusti)